An AP Diving CCR is a closed-circuit rebreather built for divers who want longer, quieter, and far more efficient time underwater. Instead of venting every breath the way open-circuit scuba does, an AP Diving CCR recycles your exhaled gas, scrubs out the carbon dioxide, and precisely adds oxygen so you breathe an optimal mix at every depth. The payoff is dramatically extended bottom time, warmer and more humid breathing gas, and near-silent, bubble-free diving. AP Diving has spent decades refining this technology, and Silent Diving is the exclusive distributor of AP Diving rebreathers across North and South America.

This guide breaks down exactly what makes an AP Diving CCR industry-leading: the manufacturing pedigree, the redundant safety architecture, the display and monitoring systems, and the training path that lets divers grow from recreational to full technical certification on a single unit.

What Makes AP Diving CCR Systems Industry-Leading

AP Diving is the single largest manufacturer of closed-circuit rebreathers for the recreational and sports diving market, having sold more units than all other manufacturers combined. With more than 25 years of producing CCRs and over 50 years of scuba equipment manufacturing experience, the company’s engineering knowledge runs deep. That market position also means parts, spares, and support are available worldwide, giving divers confidence in a long-term equipment investment.

Manufacturing happens at AP Diving’s facility in Helston, Cornwall, where roughly 90% of all components are produced in-house — from sewing harness components to injection-molding plastic fittings and brass manufacturing for hoses and manifolds. Everything is built and assembled under rigorous quality control, and the standards are consistent enough that components from units made in 1997 can be interchanged with units built today when needed.

Proven in the Most Extreme Environments

Few endorsements carry more weight than real-world performance under the harshest conditions. AP Diving’s Vision electronics provided life support for James Cameron’s historic Deep Sea Challenge dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench — and, just as importantly, brought him back safely. That kind of extreme application reflects the precision engineering behind every AP Diving rebreather.

The company invests heavily in research and development, including more than $2 million spent on a state-of-the-art testing laboratory — one of only three in the world capable of testing units to 200 meters (600 feet) of water. This ongoing commitment to testing and refinement means current units are considerably more advanced than the earliest models from two decades ago.

Revolutionary Safety Features

Dual Oxygen Controllers at the Heart of the System

In AP Diving’s engineering philosophy, dual oxygen control is an essential safety requirement, not an option. The system uses two independent oxygen controllers, C1 and C2, located in the scrubber lid and permanently encapsulated for water and vibration protection. C1 normally serves as the Master controller while C2 operates as the Slave.

The Slave constantly monitors the Master and the oxygen partial pressure (ppO2) within the breathing circuit, automatically promoting itself to Master if C1 fails or if the ppO2 drops to 80% of setpoint. This seamless transition maintains continuous, precise oxygen control throughout the dive.

Fiber Optic Head-Up Display

Connected directly to each oxygen controller is a dual head-up fiber optic display featuring four LED lights — one red and one green for each controller. Light transmits through flexible polyethylene fiber optic cables to the HUD, eliminating the need for water or pressure proofing while providing durable, reliable communication of critical dive data.

Under normal conditions, divers see two green lights confirming proper oxygen levels from both controllers. The LEDs keep functioning even after the wrist display fades and the solenoid stops firing, allowing a diver to safely execute an emergency ascent with manual gas addition.

Intelligent Dual Battery System

The intelligent dual battery system provides redundant power, with each controller able to draw from whichever battery is available. The two batteries, B1 and B2, are housed within a sealed rechargeable battery pack, eliminating the single-point-of-failure risk that comes with single-battery systems.

Advanced Oxygen Cell Technology

AP Diving’s oxygen cells use co-axial connectors with gold-plated push-on, pull-off connections for easier cell removal and more robust connections than conventional cells. The four-pronged base anchors securely to the oxygen cell’s PCB, while the Teflon front face dispels moisture and allows rapid gas transfer for real-time ppO2 control.

2020 Vision Display Technology

The 2020 Vision wrist-mounted color display represents the current standard in rebreather interface design. This full-color, high-resolution display uses conditional coloring to highlight system status and offers multiple color themes, including a color-blind option. The screen features an easily replaced, peel-off, self-adhesive screen protector for durability.

At the surface, the display shows the controlling oxygen controller (C1 or C2), setpoint, scrubber status, battery levels, ppO2 from all three oxygen cells, and atmospheric pressure. Underwater, it adds dive time, depth, maximum depth, and decompression information when Nitrox or Trimix options are installed.

Comprehensive Scrubber Monitoring

The AP Scrubber Monitor uses an array of temperature sensors positioned down the center of the scrubber. As CO2-laden exhaled breath passes through, temperature comparisons between sensors track the exothermic reaction of the Sofnolime through the bed. The system performs reliably in both cold and warm water, handles ascents and descents effectively, and even works with part-used Sofnolime.

Flexible Training From Recreational to Technical on One Unit

AP Diving pioneered the recreational rebreather market by working closely with PADI to develop simplified units meeting Rec Rebreather requirements. The modular design lets divers start in a Recreational configuration (20m or 40m limits) and progress to full Technical capabilities through simple system-key upgrades.

That progression means newer divers can build experience on simplified settings, then advance through Tec40, Tec60, or Tec100 levels without buying entirely new equipment. Instructors can configure units for different certification levels, maximizing both training flexibility and equipment utilization.

Rigorous Testing and Certification Standards

All AP Diving units meet European CE testing standards through third-party agents from approved test houses. These comprehensive tests cover oxygen control, work of breathing, scrubber duration, and safety failure analysis. Any changes to existing products, or any new products, must pass third-party CE testing and meet specified standards, and quality assurance audits are conducted bi-annually by Lloyd’s of London.

Advanced Software Integration

Bluetooth Connectivity and Data Management

The 2020 Vision display includes built-in Bluetooth for seamless data transfer to a PC using AP Connect software. Divers can download dive data, upload program updates, install decompression options, and synchronize the real-time clock. The system also supports remote diagnostics, letting factory technicians provide support regardless of location.

Decompression and Planning Software

Bühlmann decompression algorithms with adjustable conservatism levels provide reliable decompression calculations. The separate Projection Dive Planner software allows comprehensive pre-dive planning for both closed-circuit and open-circuit scenarios, including complex overhead environments and bailout gas calculations.

The Benefits of Diving an AP Diving CCR

Extended Bottom Time and Efficiency

CCR diving transforms the underwater experience through extended no-stop times and shorter surface intervals. The unit maintains a constant optimal ppO2, delivering the best possible gas mix at every depth — not just at maximum depth like traditional nitrox. Divers regularly enjoy 2-3 hour multilevel no-stop dives, eliminating the hassle of repeated entries and exits.

Warm, Humid Breathing Gas

CO2 scrubbing produces an exothermic reaction that generates heat and moisture. Combined with recirculating gas instead of breathing cold cylinder gas, that keeps divers considerably warmer than open-circuit systems, and the humid breathing gas eliminates the dry-mouth sensation common with traditional scuba.

Silent Marine Life Encounters

For underwater photographers and videographers, silent diving is often the single most valuable advantage of CCR technology. Without regulator noise or exhaled bubbles, marine life behaves naturally, allowing closer approaches and more authentic interactions that are simply impossible with traditional scuba equipment.

Silent Diving Your AP Diving Experts in the Americas

As the exclusive North and South American distributor for AP Diving, Silent Diving brings 17 years of experience in sales, service, and support. Our team is led by Mike Fowler (President and founder), whose extensive IANTD background includes advising AP Diving on training matters, alongside Jennifer Mayfield (Operations Manager), with 14 years working on rebreather and instructor certifications. That combination delivers deep, product-specific expertise you can rely on.

Silent Diving offers:

  • Factory-trained technicians with extensive CCR experience
  • Comprehensive maintenance programs tailored to individual usage patterns
  • Regular software updates and firmware upgrades
  • Custom modifications and configurations
  • Complete parts and service support
  • Detailed service documentation and maintenance tracking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an AP Diving CCR

An AP Diving CCR is a closed-circuit rebreather that recycles your exhaled breath rather than venting it. It scrubs out carbon dioxide and precisely adds oxygen to maintain an optimal breathing mix at every depth. This gives divers extended bottom time, warmer and more humid breathing gas, and near-silent, bubble-free diving.

Why is AP Diving considered a leading CCR manufacturer

AP Diving is the single largest manufacturer of closed-circuit rebreathers for the recreational and sports diving market, having sold more units than all other manufacturers combined. The company has more than 25 years producing CCRs and over 50 years of scuba equipment manufacturing experience. It also manufactures roughly 90% of its components in-house, which supports consistent quality and worldwide parts availability.

How does the dual oxygen controller system improve safety

AP Diving CCRs use two independent oxygen controllers, C1 and C2, with C1 normally acting as Master and C2 as Slave. The Slave constantly monitors the Master and the ppO2 in the breathing circuit, automatically promoting itself to Master if C1 fails or the ppO2 drops to 80% of setpoint. This redundancy maintains continuous, precise oxygen control throughout the dive.

Can an AP Diving rebreather grow from recreational to technical diving

Yes. AP Diving’s modular design lets divers start in a Recreational configuration with 20m or 40m limits and upgrade to full Technical capabilities through simple system-key upgrades. Divers can progress through Tec40, Tec60, and Tec100 levels on the same unit without buying entirely new equipment.

Where can you buy and service AP Diving rebreathers in the Americas

Silent Diving is the exclusive North and South American distributor for AP Diving. With 17 years of sales, service, and support experience and factory-trained technicians, Silent Diving handles maintenance programs, software and firmware updates, custom configurations, and complete parts and service support.

Ready to Explore CCR Diving With AP Diving

If you are ready to experience longer, quieter, more efficient dives, an AP Diving CCR paired with expert support is the definitive path into closed-circuit rebreather diving. As the exclusive North and South American distributor, Silent Diving provides the factory-trained service, parts, and guidance to keep your unit performing at its best. Reach out to the Silent Diving team through silentdiving.com to talk through the right AP Diving CCR configuration for your diving goals.